Oracle WebCenter is the user engagement platform for social business—connecting people and information.

Friday Feb 10, 2012

Thanks to those of you who attended our webcast yesterday,
we had some great questions. We wanted to provide links to a couple of things we
discussed, and then jump into the Q&A recap. The webcast will be available
on-demand at 10 AM PST on 2/10/2012. Also, you can download the slides here.

First, there are two great customer case studies we mentioned. You
can learn more about the American Institute of Architects’ webby-winning
website in this blog
post.And you can learn more
about how the Organization of American States uses WebCenter to drive case
management with mobile devices in this blog
post.

Here is the
Q&A session from yesterday’s webinar.

Can you speak to the retention
& records mgmt capabilities/benefits of consolidation?

Yes -
WebCenter supports full electronic records capabilities. It supports DOD 5015.2
Ch 2 and 4. It was the first product certified on parts 1, 2, and 3. By
consolidating to WebCenter, an organization gains a single point of
administration for organization, retention policies, and placing holds

You may have seen a recent
Information Week article that says workers aren't that keen on their employers'
social media attempts. Any reaction?

What is difference between UCM and
WebCenter content? Does WebCenter content is a layer on top of UCM?

WebCenter
Content is the rebranded name for UCM (also previously known as Stellent
Content Server).

What options do we have if we need
to integrate this with PS Financials or JD Edwards so users can access content
directly from these applications?

WebCenter
is integrated with a number of ERP systems and business applications including
E-Business Suite, PeopleSoft, JD Edwards, Siebel, and Oracle Fusion
Applications. In addition, the WebCenter Adapter Framework enables you to build
a light-weight business app plug-in that surfaces our WebCenter Content Managed
Attachments solution.

Does Kapow Katalyst seamlessly
work/integrate with other business systems that are not on Oracle platform -
let's say they are on SQL server?

Yes,
Kapow Katalyst is not dependent on an Oracle platform. Kapow Katalyst is a migration software solution that companies use to automate migration and consolidation. We presented a case study in the webinar regarding a customer who estimated that migration would cost them $9M to do it manually, but using Kapow Katalyst, they were able to bring it down to $500k. You can learn more about Kapow Katalyst in this blog post.

Can Oracle WebCenter be used for case management?

Yes, you can see an excellent example in this blog post regarding the Organization of American States and their use of Oracle WebCenter for case management. This implementation also uses mobile devices for viewing and approving content, in this case iPads.

Can WebCenter handle large-scale drawings?

Yes, WebCenter can store any file type. For large scale drawings, we integrate with Oracle AutoVue, which enables large scale document viewing and more, including features like image annotation.

Does Oracle WebCenter provide image capture and can it auto-read paper documents and populate my application?

Yes, Oracle WebCenter offers full image capture, as well as forms recognition to capture content on paper documents and automatically enter that content into your enterprise applications. We have seen more than one customer who has been able to reduce their invoice processing by 90% for example. One of these customers was able to reduce from $23 per invoice to less than $2.30 per invoice. And beyond the costs savings, it gives organizations more insight into their cash flow process, and they can make decisions to speed up payments and take discounts when they have a lot of cash, or to slow payments when cash is tight.For more information on Oracle WebCenter for imaging, check out these blog posts:

WebCenter
provides full wiki capabilities and stores the results in the enterprise
repository so it can be presented in different contexts or delivered as a part
of search results

Does it integrate with third-party
wikis?

We do
not have out of the box integrations with third-party wikis but given we are
open and standards based they can be easily integrated

Will you be speaking to
integration with BPM?

WebCenter
Content comes with a restricted use license of BPM that is integrated out of
the box. Whether the restricted use license or a full license of BPM would be
required depends on specific use cases

Is a full license required for
customizing workflows?

It
depends on the specific use cases and where workflows originate from (i.e.,
inside vs outside WebCenter )

Can you share the documentation
that explains the ways WebCenter Content can integrate using open standards?

Here
is a link to documentation on the ways you can integrate Orace WebCenter
Content including a Java API, Web Services, and the JCR Adapter.

Appreciate the high level overview,
can you demo content integration between store front and product catalog?

Yes,
we can set up an online demo for you, just feel free to reach out to
brian.dirking@oracle.com

How can we use WebCenter for
customer-facing content (static and dynamic, ie. generated by custom
applications)?

If
you are looking at how to integrated content management into your custom
application, one place to start is this blog post. WebCenter can offer static and
dynamic websites, and is very open in terms of integration. Let’s set you up
with our team so we can discuss your specific requirements.

Do we have a choice to store
content in a database or filesystem. From which WebCenter patch set is storing
content in the database available?

Yes,
you can store content in the file system or in the database. WebCenter Content
11g uses Oracle Secure Files to
provide enhanced support for database storage including de-duplication and
compression.

With a single repository you can take advantage of features
like deduplication. And by having a single instance of any content, you can be
assured that when you make updates, they will be made to the latest version of
the document, ensuring you will take advantage of all prior updates.
Consolidation enables content reuse. Companies often have a set of information
rendered all over the place – repositories, websites, mobile apps. This makes
it very difficult to make updates. Customers are striving for a single source
of content, where they can update it once, and then have the system take care
of reformatting and delivering the content to multiple users/devices/audiences.

4. Storing content where it belongs

With a
single repository you can track content access and usage, and automatically
assign storage precedence. So highly accessed content can be readily available.
Less used content can be moved to tape. So you can save further by optimizing
your storage. Oracle WebCenter is integrated with Oracle Storage Archive
Manager, which automatically manages these storage locations.

3. Security

Along with the a single point of administration, a
consolidated content management infrastructure makes it easier to set and
enforce security. Oracle WebCenter is integrated with the Single Sign-On
capabilities of Oracle Identity Management, making it easy to ensure your content
is secure.

2. Compliance

Content consolidation can make your organization more
compliant. By having one place to affect policies, perform discovery, and place
holds, you’ll be way ahead of where you were with multiple repositories.

1. Fostering innovation

With a consolidated content management solution, you can
find information you have access to with a single search. Not only does this
enable you to find the information you need, it also enables you to find
content you didn’t expect. These connections can often lead to new ideas and
innovations.

Monday Feb 06, 2012

There are many benefits to consolidating your content. Many
people think of consolidation as a cost savings tactic. And it is, in a big
way, but there are many other advantages. So, with apologies to David
Letterman, this week we will run through the Top Ten list of the benefits of using
Oracle WebCenter for Content Consolidation.

10. Find the content you need, when you need it

In a world where people commonly run searches and get 25,000
hits, it is important to limit the amount of content that you are storing so
only the most important documents are indexed. Having multiple versions of a
document, stored on various servers, at various stages of completion, can be a
real detriment to your organization. Oracle WebCenter provides content
de-duplication, so multiple copies of a document that then diverge into
multiple versions can be stopped, reducing clutter and misinformation.

9. Presenting content in the context of enterprise
applications

It’s one thing to be able to search for content. It’s
another thing when the content you need is presented to you in context. Users
love the fact that when they are in business processes, looking at a customer
or vendor record, that all the associated content is right there listed for
access. Show me the PO, the invoice, the delivery receipt for this purchase.
Show me the presentation, the sales proposal, the service contract for this
customer. With Oracle WebCenter, this kind of integration is available
out-of-the-box.

8. Lowering
storage costs

By consolidating we can lower storage costs. One way this
happens, is that when you consolidate, you often find you are keeping content
that is no longer useful and you can get rid of it. And that is a one-time
gain. But when you consolidate to Oracle WebCenter, you get built-in
de-duplication. So every time content is checked in it is compared to existing
content. So you can minimize your storage costs by reducing the amount of
content you are storing.

7. Lowering administration costs

By using a single content management infrastructure,
organizations can save money by reducing the specialized skill sets necessary
to administer multiple systems. Instead of having specialists in 3 or 5 or more
content management systems, you can have one team that is specialized in your
single ECM product.

6. Lowering retraining costs

By using a single infrastructure, as users move from system
to system, task to task, even job to job, they encounter the same content
management interface. This enables them to use the system without having to be
retrained and reoriented on multiple systems.

See the rest of the list on Wednesday, and for more details, make sure to attend the webinar on Thursday!

Wednesday Jan 25, 2012

If you’ve ever had to search for something in multiple repositories,
or if your organization is paying too much to store duplicate content, or if
you have ever had to perform a records hold or discovery search, this is the
webinar for you. Learn why companies are consolidating their content to lower
costs, improve productivity, and foster innovation.

Register
now and see examples of how companies have consolidated their content and
the tremendous benefits they have realized – saving as much as 75%!

Monday Jun 13, 2011

Many organizations are looking at the benefits of consolidating their systems to lower costs. Reducing training, hardware requirements, and maintenance fees are all benefits of these consolidation projects. We’ve pulled together a couple of examples of customers who have consolidated their systems so you can see some of the benefits they have realized.

Nuance Communications, Inc. is a leading provider of speech and imaging solutions for businesses and consumers. Nuance deployed Oracle Universal Content Management to simplify content updates, ensure consistent branding and reduce its need to rely on Web developers for changes to its Web site.

Using Oracle Universal Content Management, Nuance unified its Web branding, as well as the look and feel of its Web properties, which were inconsistent as a result of acquisitions, legacy code, non-conforming micro sites, and the challenges of multi-lingual content management.
Nuance’s implementation of Oracle Universal Content Management was facilitated by TEAM Informatics, a Gold Level Member of the Oracle Partner Network. This implementation won the Oracle Enterprise 2.0 Blazer Award for External Facing Web Sites. You can find out more in this press release: http://www.oracle.com/us/corporate/press/183705

The American Institute of Architects has consolidated to Oracle Content Management from over 17 content management systems. Using Oracle ECM, the AIA reduced hosting fees from $4.1M to $700K in one year. They are also using Oracle Content Management as a service-based repository, wrapped in their own display engine, showing how open Oracle Content Management is for many different uses. You can see a video of Brian Skapura of the AIA here. http://medianetwork.oracle.com/media/show/16586

Melbourne University migrated to Oracle WebCenter Suite to deliver a world class Web 2.0 experience for students, and Unified Content Management to consolidate disparate content management systems. Melboure University had over 1.8 million websites. This implementation is also heavily integrated with Oracle E-Business Suite. SeeMichael Carolan, Director for Application Services for Melbourne University, discuss this implementation in this video http://medianetwork.oracle.com/media/show/16685

Has your organization undergone a consolidation, or are you considering one? Drop us a comment and tell us a bit about it – you may find other organizations that can share experiences with you.

Wednesday May 11, 2011

This morning we have posted three new videos. The first video is of Kumar Vora, our SVP of Oracle WebCenter and Content Management products. In this video, Kumar talks about the transformation that Information Technology is undergoing, with the consumerization of applications, the demand for mobile access, the changing methods of collaboration and the role of social media.

The second video is of Carolina Franco of The Organization of American States. The Organization of American States uses Oracle ECM Suite as a case management tool to manage human rights petitions. The OAS enables approvals and electronic signatures from remote devices like iPads.

The third video is of Brian Skapura of The American Institute of Architects. The AIA has consolidated from over 17 content management systems. Using Oracle ECM, the AIA reduced hosting fees from $4.1M to $700K in one year. They are also using Oracle Content Management as a service-based repository, wrapped in their own display engine, showing how open Oracle Content Management is for many different uses.

About

Oracle WebCenter is the center of engagement for business—powering
exceptional experiences for customers, partners, and employees. It connects
people, process, and information with the most complete portfolio of portal,
Web experience management, content, imaging and collaboration technologies.